From the journal
As I travel, I keep a journal. This post is straight from the source – documenting the moments as I experienced them. It has been recorded on the blog on the date it was originally written.
We’ve boarded.
The last 12 days have been a whirlwind. I can’t help but be a little sad that it’s ending. However, I’m anxious to see our dogs and start to imagine our life as the rest of forever.
After the camera was lost to the lake – we went back to the lodge and dove straight into beer and quesadillas.
No problem is ever too severe to be fixed by queso.
Dinner – another expensive meal – was only 2 hours away. Aaron wanted to shower. I wanted to write. So, I did. With more beer. And more cheese.
While decompressing and mourning alone, I noticed a Grey Glacier wine bottle at the bar. In a failed attempt to order a copa de vino, I ended up with an entire bottle at the exceptionally unreasonable rate of $25,000 pesos. About $40 USD.
For what it’s worth, the wine was actually good. And, I was drinking it at THE Glacier Grey. Epic.
Our roommates caught Aaron in the room and, eventually, we were all sitting, sipping and laughing about the day’s insane misfortune.
The fun and conversation continued through dinner. We shared the proposal story and laughed about all the best parts.
Since the sun had not yet set, Aaron and I made a break for the glacier mirador. We climbed and sat high above the lake as sunlight kissed the last of the peaks around us. The glacier glistened and glowed blue below. Slowly, the scene faded into matte silhouettes against the glossy lake. Simply breathtaking.
Back at the lodge, we found Cole and Claudio in the bar. Claudio apologized over and over. We ensured him it was only an accident and it was the missing photos that upset me most.
He bought me my only Pisco Sour of the trip. I liked it. On top of the beer and wine I’d already had – it was a bit much.
We all talked for quite awhile. They told us of tours and recommendations for Punta Arenas and Santiago. They told us about food and penguins and so much more. It was fun.
I want to always be these people in the world. This version of ourselves. Merciful. Grateful. Adventurous. We accepted an evening of joy with amazing new friends instead of pursuing a frustrating afternoon of arguments with a foreign business.
Lemonade.
Before the evening ended, I ran back to the bar to purchase another bottle of Grey. Claudio interjected and took the bottle from the bartender and handed it to me – free of charge.
I had wanted the bottle for a fun memory at home. Now, it means much more.
The bottle made its way back to Puerto Natales in my pack. We woke up early – 6 am – ate granola in the dark and parted ways with Camp Grey. The shit smell lingered as we walked away.
The morning walk was another blast. We joked. We snapped new photos to replace the ones we’d lost. We talked about wedding ideas. Ate Snickers. Climbed. Relaxed.
These times together are my favorite.
At Paine Grande, we bought more crackers and salami. Paired with Pringles and Snickers, it was a legit lunch my collegiate self would have envied.
We snacked outside in the sun. Another perfect day. When the bar opened, we moved to the loft, ordered espresso and sat by a large open window to look over the hikers along the lakeside trails.
A few hours of lingering landed us on the catamaran once again. The sunny day and extremely calm water made for gorgeous photos from the boat’s rooftop seating.
We soaked it all in – the very end of our Torres del Paine adventure.